Environmental Links

The 2030 Challenge Environmental Links

Buildings are the major source of global demand for energy and materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases (GHG). Slowing the growth rate of GHG emissions and then reversing it is the key to addressing climate change and keeping global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. View the Environmental Links bleow.

To accomplish this, Architecture 2030 issued The 2030 Challenge, asking the global architecture and building community to adopt the following targets:

* All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be designed to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 60% of the regional (or country) average for that building type.

* At a minimum, an equal amount of existing building area shall be renovated annually to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 60% of the regional (or country) average for that building type.

* The fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings and major renovations shall be increased to: o 70% in 2015 o 80% in 2020 o 90% in 2025 o Carbon-neutral in 2030 (using no fossil fuel GHG emitting energy to operate).

Recycle more: You save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half your household waste.

Check your tires: Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere!

Use less hot water: It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead. (50 pounds of CO2 saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year).

Avoid products with a lot of packaging: You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%.

Adjust your thermostat: Moving your thermostat just 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer you could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment.

Plant a tree: A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide a year over its lifetime.

Turn off electronic devices: Simply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo, and computer where you’re not using them will save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

For our local community in Aldea, Santa Fe, New Mexico here is more you can do:

Recycle: Trash Pick up service in Aldea : Ibarras Trash Service, office: 505.471.0873 Cell: 505.920.3264 . You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of your household waste.

Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket: You’ll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple action.

Buy a fuel efficiency Automobile: When it comes time for a new car, choose a more efficient vehicle. You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. You can get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid!

Download the PDF of the 10+ things you can do to make the pledge to help reduce global warming:10things_PDF»

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